MAXIM HISTORY

Maxim Lamps, an independently run, private family business holds its position today in the light bulb industry alongside the dominant major brand names. The Company has a long and distinguished history dating back to the 19th century when the it was established by Hiram Maxim, an American engineer and inventor. He developed an incandescent lamp at the same time as Edison, Swan, Sanger, Man and Lane Fox with lamps which had carbonised paper for filaments. Hiram Maxim's first light bulbs were produced in 1879 and in the following year 50 Maxim lamps were installed at the New York Safe Deposit Company. However it was Edison who was to get the credit for the invention of the electric light bulb as his lamps were installed a few months earlier on a steamship.

Hiram Maxim transferred his activities to England during the 1880s and produced light bulbs in London. However by the turn of the century his interests had turned away from the manufacture of light bulbs to his other inventions such as the Maxim machine gun. The factory manager, Mr J F Poynter, took over the ownership of the Company from Hiram Maxim in 1910 .

The ownership of the Company has remained solely in the hands of some of the Poynter family who continue as directors and work full time in the business. They are justly proud of Maxim's long history and association with Sir Hiram Maxim.

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Lamps were produced at the London factory until 1951 when the plant was transferred to a factory which was purchased in Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex with new offices built alongside. Leslie Poynter, the grandson of J F Poynter, had been appointed Commercial Director in 1945 on his return from service overseas, and he expanded sales dramatically and purchased a new plant to meet the increased demand. Manufacture continued at Hurstpierpoint until the late 1970s when due to an increasingly competitive market which was driven by price the decision was taken to cease production at home and import the range of Maxim light bulbs.